Spearman, Poole, Kell Lead Spartans’ Effort at HCAC Championships

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Manchester University swimming and diving teams wrapped up competition at the 2019 HCAC Swimming and Diving Championships. The three-day event, held at the Vigo County Aquatics Center and hosted by Rose-Hulman, concluded on Saturday night.

Freshman diver Jordan Spearman (Indianapolis, Indiana / Mt. Vernon) won the HCAC title in the men’s 3-meter dive after posting an overall score of 441.25. Spearman’s mark not only set a new Manchester record, but it also qualified Jordan for the NCAA Sectionals. Spearman also set a new Manchester record and qualified for the NCAA Sectionals in the men’s 1-meter dive. Spearman’s score of 487.45 earned him a third-place finish on the podium Saturday evening. Anjel Clemente (Rensselaer, Ind. / Rensselaer) earned a fourth-place finish in the 1-meter dive with a score of 445.60. Clemente’s mark also qualified him for the NCAA Sectionals.

Junior Christain Poole (Anderson, Ind. / Anderson) also recorded a top three finish on the first day of competition for the Spartans. Poole finished third in the men’s 50-freestyle with a final time of 21.56. Poole’s mark on Thursday night broke his own school record, set during the morning prelim session. On Saturday, Poole broke the school record in the men’s 100-free with a time of 48.97.

Guerby Ruuska (Rensselaer, Ind. / Central) also set a new program record in the men’s 100-backstroke. Ruuska posted a record-breaking time of 57.15. Guerby also set a new program record in the men’s 200-backstroke on the final day of competition, clocking in at 2:12.42.

Shelby Kell (Charlottesville, Ind. / Eastern Hancock) broke four school records during the HCAC Championships. Kell broke the school record in the 500-free with a time of 5:36.99, topping her previous record by almost six seconds. On the second day of the HCAC Championships, Kell broke another school record after posting a time of 2:03.30 in the women’s 200-free. She had previously bested the school record in the 200-free earlier in the day during the morning prelims. Kell added another record breaking performance on the final day of competition, setting the record in the 100-free with a time of 55.90. Shelby also broke the top Manchester mark in the 50-free with a time of 25.59.

Katie Blystone (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) earned a fifth-place finish in the women’s 100-butterfly.

The men earned 141 points and the women earned 134 points. Franklin College won both the men’s and women’s titles at the 2019 HCAC Championships with top scores of 796 and 723.5.